by Levi Briggs, December 18, 2018

As I posted in my last blog, I recently accepted the position of Executive Chef at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA.  I had only been working in Pittsburgh for a month when an antisemitic lunatic walked into a nearby synagogue and killed 11 innocent people (he also wounded 6).  This tragic event took place only a few blocks from CMU and the community quickly came together in support of those who were suffering.

The school set up a strategic command post for first respondents and city and school officials.  We provided food and beverages for these groups.  Naturally, due to the proximity of the synagogue and the tight knit community, there were a series of vigils on campus.  We also provided food and beverages for these events.  This all came together logistically because we partnered with SLICE (student leadership involvement and civic engagement), a student organization on campus.

This was such an awful event and so many innocent lives were lost.  It was heartwarming to see the community come together and do what they could for the survivors.  I took my elderly landlady to mass the following week and the priest set aside time to pray for the families and loved ones of the murdered/injured and also took a special collection for them.  Again, it was encouraging to see a group of people with different religious beliefs give so generously to their neighbors.